After a Shiv-Hanuman temple was found and reopened for the first time after 1978 in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal, an abandoned Radha-Krishna Temple was found in Sambhal’s Muslim-majority Sarai Tarin area under the Hayatnagar Police Station precinct. On Tuesday (17th December), the police reopened the temple and found idols of Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha alongside Lord Hanuman. Following this, the administration launched cleaning and restoration efforts at the temple premises.
Reports say that this ancient Radha-Krishna Temple was surrounded by Hindu families who had migrated away. The police received information about this abandoned temple and then arrived at the spot and reopened it. The police, however, did not find any signs of illegal encroachment.
This comes after a Shiv-Hanuman temple was opened for the first time after 1978. The area has been secured, and the police are trying to secure the idols at the moment. The police have also said that adequate arrangements have been made to facilitate the Darshan and Puja in the just-opened temple. The police recovered multiple idols of Hindu gods from a well near the Shiv temple that was opened by the administration on December 14.
An anti-encroachment drive has been going on in areas of Sambhal where large areas have been under illegal occupation for decades. The encroached areas have been habituated by a large population, with multiple mosques and dense colonies. Rampant electricity theft has also been going on in the encroached areas, and the administration is making efforts to remove the same.
The Shiv-Hanuman temple was also discovered during the anti-encroachment drive. The temple was ‘hidden’ from all sides by illegal structures.
